The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-12

on Tennessee street. Che ONO street front 1;
Internationally bette IN design and more
satisfactory in appearance THAN the Wash
iDgton street front. This is on account OF the
projection which is given "a the central OF
entrance portion.
The dome has been greatly inn GoVed in
design since the original drawings were
made. 1t has been carefully studied. 1t is
very satisfactory. The architect would be
bold indeed who would plan State-hoUse
without q dome.
1t is to be hoped that the copper coverins'
will never be gilded. II is q popular idea
that all domes should be treated in this way:
and, while we would have something that
would shine and look bright, if this were
done 1t would be greatly TO the disadVan-
tage of the building and the dome itself 1t
would have the effect of depressing it.
There would be the very streng contrast be-
tween the stone and the upper part. The
great difference in color and appearance
would divide it as to its height. There
would be about one-half gilt and the other
half stone. This division to the eye would
have the effect of bringing it down. The di-
vision in appearance would have the effect of
a division in fact. There appears to be
question as to what to do with the copper
covering of the dome. Let it alone.
THE INTERIOR.
The general design OF the interior of this
building is pleasing. The size and the heights
of the corridors and dome, the breadth of
the stalrways, the great sky-lights ABOVE, all
tend to make it impressive. One may notice
more of the new Greek treatment in this
part of the building than on the exterior. 1t
may be well to state what this new Greek Is.
1t is a recent product of the French school.
Its outlines are not greatly different from
those of the latter part of the French re-
~1oru 4 ,kuo
designed and applied in the Greek spirit.
They are finer, more delicate and more
thoughtful than the same features of the
renaissance. They are drawn in so tar as
possible from the Greek architecture. The
architect of our State-house is less successful
in handling these details than those which
may be said to belong to his own school.
THE FREsCoING.
The frescoing, as it is called, is atrocfous.
Not Incidentally so, however; it may be
painted over. There is no basis for criticism
or reasoning in regard to this matter. The
coloTing is inharmonious, the design is
thoughtless, and the general result bad. The
way in which this was let to contract clearly
indicated what might have been expected.
Good work from an artistic standpoint can
not be secured by taking bids, and then
awarding the contract TO the lowest bidder.
a contract or a bond can not make one do
are not in him. In order to get an artistic
piece OF work one has to first get an artist,
and, as a class, it is hardly to be expected
that the best artists would be the lowest bid
ders. The frescoing as it is called, in our
State house was contracted at separate let
tings, so that there was chance that differ
ent contractors would get different parts of
the work, which they probably did. This
fact alone would prevent the possibility of
there being any unity or harmony in the
work throughout the building.
THE ROOMS.
1t remains for the regular occupants OF
the building to decide as to the utility of
the offices. AS to the legislative halls, any
one can see that they are not designed or ar
ranged with reference to their use A spec
tator cen neither seen or hear what is going on
on the floor, and it is very questionable If
those on the floor can hear one another. 1t
is fair to say that the acoustic qualities will
be bad, indeed.
AS to the facilities afforded spectators for
seeing we do not have to wait to assure our
selves. The approaches to the gallery are by
means of narrow, dark, cheap, obscure stair
ways. The seats are arranged on a steep de-
cline at one side OF the hall, with short
projection toward each side. On account OF
the arrangement and position of the gallery
there Is no possibility of seeing but few OF
the members Of either body. Furthermore,
this view is constantly interrupted by large
columns. As far as use is concerned, the ar
rangement and shape of these rooms could
not be worse. What has been said as to the
frescoing in general would apply with par
ticular force to the legislative halls.
The wood and marble work in these rooms
is not satisfactory. The oak wainscoting
and bases with the various colored marble
panels is homogeneous. Wood and marble
certainly do not harmonic when used in
this way.
THE WORK or THE COMMISSIONERS.
The business management of the affairs of
this building could hardly have been more
satisfactory. There has never been breath
of suspicion against their integrity and hon.
esty of purpose. The management has been
entirely non-partisan. There has never been
a word said about rings or jObbery. Tle
management has been straightfor ward, hon
orabIe and businesslike. At times the wis
dom of the action of the Commissioners in
regard to certain details has been ques-
toned, but never their right intentions. The
mistakes in business management have been
few indeed, and they can be remedied.
The frescoing failure is probably the result
of the business ideas of the Commissioners
which have been so successful in getting a
good house at low cost. 1t has been their
habit to have prepared accurate plans and
specifications, take bids and then that
the work was mechanically we'll executed.
This has been the strong point with the COM
missioners when applied to that part of the
work where mechanical labor was employed.
1t is the course which resulted disastrously
when dealing with the strictly artistic feat
ures of the building. Time will prove that
another mistake has been made in the
plumbing. 1t is unfortunate that the criti-
cism of this work grew out of trades union
struggle, which had the effect of weakening
the argument of those who favored the more
,tor naYHfc IL sc rrnho-
BILE that the Commissioners have operated
according to their best knowledge in this
matter 1t is unfortunate that their instruc-
ton has not been abreast of the times in
these sanitary arrangements.
AN ARCHITECT.
He Could Stow Away Beer.